Becoming a doctor is a matter of being able to solve problems and quickly recall facts, having people skills that enable you to take a strong leadership position in medical situations and having the energy to study for years and work long, demanding hours during and after medical school. While these are high-level attributes, they can be learned over time, provided you make the decision to become a doctor during or before your undergraduate education.
Instructions
1. Study hard sciences like chemistry, biology and physics. Specialize in these subjects in high school and major in one of them at the university, as medical degrees require a thorough knowledge of sciences. Since medical degrees are competitive, aim for a 4.0 GPA, although 3.5 to 3.7 should be acceptable, provided you can show competence in other areas. Medical schools tend to require students have backgrounds in science classes with lab work, such as 1000-3000-level chemistry, biology and physics, and behavioral science requirements, such as psychology and neuroscience.
2. Major in one of the hard sciences in your undergraduate degree and make sure you have a high grade point average (GPA) by studying hard and making sure all of your internal work (such as lab reports) are high caliber. There are always more applicants for medical school than there are available spots, so make yourself exceptional by doing well. Between the years of 2007 and 2009, 38 percent of white applicants with a GPA between and 3.4 and 3.6 were admitted, while only 9 percent of white applicants with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.2 were admitted.
3. Study for and take the MCAT exam. This is a standardized test available through your undergraduate institution's careers office. The test is divided into four sections: physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning and a writing sample. This is because doctors need to have both a firm knowledge of science and the ability to express this knowledge.
4. Engage in extracurricular activities that will bolster your application. These don't necessarily have to be medical in nature, but they should show your leadership, initiative and people skills. For example, if you were editor of your undergraduate newspaper, that shows your ability to communicate with and manage people.
5. Apply to a medical school through the American Medical College Application Service. This is a service that makes the process more efficient by distributing applications to schools for you. Some people apply during their junior year, while others apply after a few years out of undergraduate school.
6. Interview with faculty from the school you are applying to if you are invited. This is generally towards the end of the application process.
7. Attend medical school with the same drive and enthusiasm that you did as an undergrad. After three years, you'll graduate with your doctor's degree, although you will still have between two and seven years of internships and residencies before your career really starts.
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